Lapping machine



` March 8, 1932. A. w. COPLAND LAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan. 17, 1927 2 Sheets--Sheefl l March 8, 1932. A. w. OPLAND LAPPING MACHINE Filed Jan, 17, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 'l Patented Mar. 8,1932 l daz l Arenen una W. ooLAND, oF/isinimlnonamlIIHIG-NQ I A mesme The primary object of my invention is to simultaneously)cause a. plurality of tools to describe-iindependent circles relative' to a pluralityv of worl; pieces;

each of za plurality of such tools to so upon eac-i. of a plurality. of work- Whereby the inequalitiesk of each oftheytools .of may `loe averaged tofproduce a which will be substantially perfect. f

Itis a further object of luy-invention to` a work or tool hold-z apply a rotary motion to er and cause the vtools Vheld therebyto deupon a plurality of Work the Sametime.

iAnother object of my invention is to proy shift the J Work holder or tool holder so as to cause dif.- I

ferent tools to operate on different onesv of;4 i

' my invention consi vide indexing mechanism which will the plurality of pieces.

I have applied this invention to machinery.

Jfor finishing tools in hardened metal accu- -5v rately to size and shape by the lapping method.V ,Hand lappinghas been theusual pr'acf` ticel Where accuracy was necessary and when z surface iinish approximating a; polish and Y desired, but the hand `method is slow, "'U subJect to human-error, so

od at slight cost, is not had.

The terinlapping7 `as used throughout the speciicationand claims is "intended-to ner of lapping tende'dto cover a polishing actionwithout or b'urnghing machines.

Appiicanon nieairanuary. 17,1927L seriai No.31a1jge4if" `so as' `to fsimnlf; gtaneouslyf perforniwo'rl thereon. Further,v my, .invention'encompasses the causing-ot operate pieces,

finished result by their carrier, and. lat predetermllqd 1.11'- g scribe independent circles so as to` operate..

pieces at one and. y y l y Acomplete eycleof workmgoperations of thatv uniform size', inish and accuracy, as obtained by my metlrmean,y encompass and include the usual -manby use of an abrasive or pol` ishing paste `or compound,V and is alsovinmachines which have no relation to lapping Maenmn This inventan'mi@ tiiitaiiyldeisiuQ a machine that will produce the desiredlap- 1 ping. motion simultaneouslyv on Qa number oi'A r .duplicate piecesywhereby avery" liiigli degree of accuracy; can plication'and uniformity ofA product. j The" lduplica-te pieces are. j.imoiuited .on a table: at equally spaced,interv als,yvitha the vlaps oaried ahead mechanism above the-pieces'.'Ik

A circular motion. is imparted to; thel lapsv tervalsltlie tahleyisl Weredtoldisengage anisnr spaces the'.V tablefaroundfone fpiece. j

VVheni the table resumes .the Working ,posi-v j tion, each lap is Worlingin-another hole.`

..Figlrv 4 isa `,section,taken on y'linefile vln'c-liipV Fig@ 14 'Fig. 5 .is an, .alternatiye ari-gangen'nentk of the l Y carrier7 rshoyving gearing .orgA rotating@ +he MPS. 1-

Fig. y6 is lan .underl view ,offFig.' sho/vi7 ngi the geararrangemefnt.I 5 ff U .Fri/g, isla;y section .tal'eii .if f 1v, ffl/ 1...; p Fig. 8 :is lanalternative..talole reciprocating, Y Cam` y. y"i" A .ffy "zii-V'. i. In the-'erwiesen .sthe malsaine@ be olotainediasvvell isdn- 1503 usf casing of the entire machine. 12 represent-s an electric motor that supplies the main power for operating and rotating the lap carrier and work table, to be described later. The motor 12 carries the sprocket 14 and through the chain 15 delivers power to the sprocket 16 on the shaft 17. The shaft 17 is supported in adequate bearings (not shown) and carries with it the bevel' gear 18, the spiral gear 19 and the cam 20. The bevel gear 18 meshes with andk drives the bevel gear 21'at asu'itable ratio and`geafl 21'therefore rotates the shaft 22 which is carried and supported in the bearing 23 attached `to the rame casing 11 by-.\the.bolts 24s; The oollar 25 attached to the 'shaft`22` maintains 'its ver` tical location. On the upper end of the-shaft 22 is another bevel pinion 26 which drives :Migu

the bevel gear 27 on the/shaftnQS; ShaftiQS isalso borneonsuitable bearings and supported by" `snitable` brackets from the 4main the cam 2 9-,Which ishsshaped thatfonce each e1"` 30 on a pink 31' 'carriedon'thetrocker arm 32,and the ,rocke'r'arm' is trunnioned vat 1 33 ,on the' bracket 34'e`xtending upward'from the main frame I 11.Av 011; the'fend' f the rocker ariii 32, opposite the roller 30,:is'fo'rmed a forkI with suitable pins? 36J engaging the yokess is the 10e 371,111I are block 3 8; TheV yoke` 183 i'siffree to'sliide"laterally i'njthe slot 3T' to allowl for the eccentric 'motion of the blockl It willy be notednl tliatrot'ation of the motor 12 -finally imparts reciprocating "motion Vat statedintervalsto the block 38 yin a vertical direction, and it' will be further noted'that' the'gearv ratios ofthe gearsy1821 vand-the gears 26f27 combined,' determine the number fof' strokes of the 'block 88 per 'rei'olution ofthe shaftilf. "Considerable latitude in detnrinsihes ratios 'iS' Prsent and the ratio ofthe sprockets 14 and-16 permits ade# terminationv ofthe relative Vspeeds dfftlie motor 12 and shaft 17.

The spiral gear 19 mounted'on the 'shaft 17 meshes withfth'e spiralgeai '39, andthe con; struct-ion of lthese gears is such that gearY 19 hais a single interrupted tooth that` peri'OdiT cally engagesatootliinthe gear 39 and moves it 'around its aXisi'a'n amount corresponding toone tooth, The numberof'teethuin the is determined in conjunction withA the size `of lgears'44a-nd 45 so that'the work carrierindexes as desired., The geait'39Qis'r rigidly attached to the shaft 4Q which in turn is borne. and supportedintli'e brackets'41" and 42" projecting from the `-ina`in "frame casing 11. The Lcollar 43,attaclied4 tothe shaft=40gfn one side of the bracket 42a`nd tlie gear 44 on the `other1 sideofthe bracket 42 determine the vertical location 'of thivshaftl() audits biacket't?. On the upper'nd 'ofthe'shaft 46" is attached the work holder which' carries the pieces which are to be lap finished.

Assbown in `Figr..3:at number of pieces are carried on the work holder 50, spaced at reguiarintervals on the circumference of a common circle 54.

Returning to the shaft 17 we find that the cam 20 rotates with it. The cam 2() so c onstructed that it has one low spot in its cirf cumference that is timed to allow the roller to lift and hold just a moment before the interruptedl tooth in the spiral gear 19 ven- Y gages one ofthe teeth in the gear 39.`j` Now, since the roller 55 is carriedin the yoke `5t on the vertical push rod-57 whichiin turn is hingedat 5S to the end of the lever r59, and

59 is pivoted on the casing 11 at '60 andthe otherwei'id of 159 has the balll head 61 resting in contact with the shoe blockv48, it is evi` dent -thatthe downward weight Voffthe shaft 4Gand its associated parts will force the roller 55 int-o the notch in the c am 20, and the holder 50 `will therebyl lower by gravityan amount determined by the collar. 51 which' is suiiicient to withdraw the work pieces,- 53 from; Vthe laps W'hile the, work support OisV in this lowered position, the interrupted tooth in the gear 19 engages a tooth in the gear 39 and indexes the shaft, 40 aroundl 'sufficiently to bring the laps 62 in registry 'with another workpiece, whereupon the cam 2O at the proper momentppushes the roller 55 down again, thusulifting theshaft 4G and holder 50 back up into the working position as'sliownin Fig. 1. It will bev noted that the facewid't'hiof the gear 44'is suflicient to retain engagement 'with the mating gear 45 while the foregoing eventroccurs. It will also be evident that-*the choice of gear ratio between the gears 44 'and permits considerable latitude in setting up the machine for different vkinds and quantities otwork'.` The proportioning of the arm 59 also can bc determined by the amount of table `lift desired inconjunction withthe height of theV cam 20. and the collar 51 can be moved to a different spaced distance from the'bearing stop47. by means of the set screw Therspace between the hub of the holder 5() and the bearing 49 is made suicient to clear themaximum sized work piece. l I

" lTi'g. 8 depicts an alternative ,cam 20a that can be substituted for cam 20when work ibo ' pieces* `with cylindrical holes or- `surfaces are to be lapped. The cam 20a has aseries of minor depressions 8/l'th`at impart a rec1procatin-gmotion to the WOrk'hOlder 50,'while the one deep depression 85 permits the holder p y rotationot the gear 65, driven by the motor S0-to lower sufficiently to' withdraw the laps {remt-he work, pieces for vindexing in'fthe samcnxanne'r as the notchin the cam :20.

The auxiliary'electric motor is supportand` to its armature lshaft Vis connected the gear 65 which 1n turn meshesvfiththelarge gear 66. Gear 66 1s attached tothe hub 67 Wlnch m'turn `1s journaled in the casing l1 at 67I giving vertical location.v an eccentric holel that 73 which is located vertically by its "collar 7 6? yThe shaft 73 is 'freeltorotate in its Ahole in'the hub 67, and in-rtl'1e'shaft73 isa spiral keyway' or groove asiat 174. Carried partly onthe hub 67 Vand .partly on the 'bodyo` the bythe bolts71, thus lrotatingthe sleeve 7 O with the gear66 but in a circularl path Whose centeris eccentric tothe gear 66 land concen. trievith the shaft 73:1? `YVithin the sleeve 70 is the .busting-72 supplying a bearing -sur- "-favce` for the. block-38 AOn 'the outerr'surface ofV the block 38 is a keywayparallel to the axis of the? block, this-keyway engaging the This keyV or pin 7 5 carried byl the sleeve 70. permits thevblock 38 to move up and down fl but 4prevents relative; rotation between `the block 38 and the sleeve' 70. On the inner diameter of the block3'8 is apinaor key which engages the spiral keyway The` combination of vthese serves to advance 'or 'retard the angular relation of the shaft 73 tothe sleeve 7 O when the block 38 is 'movedA up and `down byforkedY rocker arm 35 previously described. .Since the sleeve 70 is secured to the gear 66 and hub l 67, the above described mechanism` gives an intermittent rotative relation betvveen shaft 73landrgear 66'although the shaft 73 is carried Veccentric to the gear 66.`

in its upward movement stops on the undersiderof' brackets ,82 Whichproject. fromthe 'trame casing- 1l, and'onth'e upper sides of these E brackets head) `78; Between the lap-holder 78 and clearancehole in ythe ring` plate v77panden-fy bearinghole-inthelap head i781' The eccentric motion of the shaft 73 impartsV angagesfa 101 ed by bracket 64 from the *frame casing ll that the pin 8l on the sha-'ft 7 3also moves 68,'"the gear 66 resting ontop of the casingllf fory support, and=the collar 69 on the' hubH Inthe hubV 67 is: bears the vertical shaft ,gear 66 `is the sleeve 7 0' .Whichisiheld inpla'ce'v ,y 25.

74 in the 'shaft 73.-v keys andkeyways pinglisto remove such high spots; -Int-he con 82 is vborne the lap holder (or the ramefeasing 1l is'A interposed the, ringA eccentric kmotionto the'crank pin 81",'-re'sultant motio'nrof thelap head 78 'beingthat of a'V 13, impartsrotation to the gear 66 and its 'hub Thus, it Vfollows that the: lm.

67, and the shaft 73 ournaled eceentricallyin thehub 67 is moved about in a circular pat-h about in.V a circular path carrying with `it the l lap holder 78 vvith its laps 6Q-injthe same" circular path as the pin '81. Hoiveverptlie lapholder 78 is prevented. from rotating` onf its ovm vaxis by virtue vet the interposedy ring plate 77 with its keys '79 and 80. It tolloivsl that each and every point on the` lap" head or holder describes a `small circle asV shownin Fig. Y3, and eachy lapv 62- runsgaround thissmall circle Within thework piece as l The radius'of the smallicircle just'describ-ed is thel `distance between' theeenter' 'ot the pin* Stand theaxis of thehub /67iand the lrafdius4 i 90,2,

is variablesin'ce the sha'tt73'is 'eccentric tfo thehub 67 and the pin 8l iseccentric 'to the' movement of theblock 38 causes rotationfot the shaft 73 in its ournal infthe'hub 67'. -Thus .it ywill beseen a reduction of the-"radius reduces the di ameter-of'the circular' path ofithefv laps" 62)'1nthe' Work pieces 53, causing Jthe laps tovwlthdravv from a'groo-ve as shown vin Vthe' particular work pieces illustrated inflig'.

1. .f Suehv'withdravval ofthe laps removes any interterencewhen the Work-holder 50 is lovvered'as previously described. Y The clamping v or holdingrmeanstor the pieces of Work 53 the sake of clearness, Ibut it will beunder# stood that the pieces of Workaresnitably* clamped 0F heldupony thetxvorlctable() in anr Well-known and customary manner. Y

The variationof the radius of the Work# ing c-ircleyol the laps Operates in another U w l, Y and very important,manner as follows: It a The Work holder 50-prev1ously mentloned, f

work piece has higlrspots, one reason .tor lap-I struction 4illustrated and. described,-the bal! have been omitted from the drawings for ancngofthe working .parts is :suehfthat 'I when a lap Aencounters' azhigh s'potthe lap tends to yieldtowardthe centervof its Workingr circle and thus displacesthe lap carrier i. 78 andpulls the pin 8iV closer'to theaxis of the' hub V67l by rotating` the shaft `73 .inits journal in the hub 67. `rlfhis'rotati'on of shaft 7 BK'relat-ive to the sleeve 70, which is attached tothe hfub 67, causes thel spiral key, Way `7st to litt the block 38 and pull:y the roller 3U away from .the cam 29. Att-er the high spot' is passed, the weight oitl the' block V38vrotates theshaft 73 Yby virtue-ofthe spiral vkeywayy 7l landthe pin .81 resumes its originalieccen-:

tricity and the Working circleof the lap-is resumed, and Weight of the block 381keeps' the laps 62 constantly in pressure Contact with the surfaces they ai'e lapping. This acz-.tioii continues until the high spots are. all

rubbed olf and true circles in all Work pieces result.

It will be apparent that thelaps tend to describe a perfect circular path, and because of the periodic indexing of the ivorkholder,

each lap is ultimately brought in ivorkin-g contact with each piece, and because of the lav of` averages, the pieces ultimately ari'ive at a degree of likenessand accuracy hcreto" fore unknown. e l

Under certain conditions it is desirable to rotate the laps'GQ on their own axes While the above described'events and motions are occurring, Without otherwise changing thesel motions. To accomplish this lap rotation, Iv

have shown an alternative construction in' Fig. 5. In this construction the crank pin 81a extending from the-shaft 78a passes on through the lap holder 78a and iskeyed to thelarge gear 83 by the key 84. Meshin'g With this large gear 83 are a series of smaller gears 85, one for each lap 62. The laps 62'are' fastened to these gears so that they rotate of the lapV Shanks, into the holder vplate 78a, serves to With them and the estensionr properly locate the gears 85. f

lVhen this alternative construction is em? ployed, the action is as follows. `The shaft- 78a is carried around by the hub 67 (which fis rotated by the gear 66) in an eccentric path relative to the center of the gear 66. When considered relative to the frame 1'1, the shaft 73er is rotating on its own axis. Now, the lap head TSa'is prevented from rotation relative -to the frame casing ll, but the lap head 78a has a circular motion (previously described) and since the shaft 73a does rotate relativeV to the frame casing ll, it follows-,that thel crank pin` 81a rotates relative to the'fraine l casing ll, the result being a rotation of the crank pin 81a relative to the lap head 78a. Since the gear 83 is keyed to the' crank pin 81a, it follows that' the gear 83 rotates rela tive to the lap head 78a andthereby causes' the laps 62 to rotate on their own axes While' lar path previously clescriloed.

It should be noted that the intermittent their axes aredescribino` the small circuangular change of the shaft 73 relative to the' f gear 66 is passed along to this alternative construction without change in-function;

It shouldalso be notedthat except for the alternative construction depicted in -F ig. 5' it is entirely possible to reverse the positions of the Work pieces 53 and the laps`62 whereupon none of the events, functions,t oi

results would be disturbed.` That is to say, the Work, instead of the tool holder, may be moved to cause portions thereon to describe independent circles and -I desire that this reversibility be considered vinconstruing the claims.

It should be evident lthat I have devised ar neivfand useful mechanism in a veryfnovel'aiid" simple' manner. Y Obviously, changes may be made in'detail, byone familiar With the art,

Without departing from' the spirit of my invention, and it 'is my intention t'o cover by.

my'claims such changes as may be reasonably included within the scope thereof.

'What' I claim is:

Al-. l`he'combination of' a tool-holding elen1ent,a plurality of tools disposed in spaced relation oiisaid ,holding element, .meansV for rotating each ofsaid tools and means forv imparting a co-planar circular oscillation to said tool holding element so as to cause the plurality of spaced indetools to describe- Aa pendent circles.

2. The combi-nation of atool holding ele'- V nient, a'plu'rality of tools disposed'fin concentric.equi-distantspaced relation on said tool holding' element, means for rotating eachof said tools, means for imparting a coplanar circular oscillation to said tool holding element soas to `cause the tools to de-4 scribe a plurality of spaced independent cincles, a work support for holding a plurality of Work pieces in position to be engaged respectively by saidgtools, meansforrelatively moving said tool holding'element and Work support for dise-ngaging said tools from their A.

respefrive pieces ofV Work, means for rela-r tively rotating said tool holding element and Work `support for kbringing said tools into respective registry with pieces of Work differentfrom the piecesof Work originally 'engaged thereby, and means for relatively moving said tool holdingelement and Work support for engaging" said tools with their respec'tive new'pieces of Work.

I'n' a-device -of the class described, a tool holding element, a plurality of tools yheld thereby an'd means for imparting a co-planar:

circularoscillation to said holder and causingl .each of said Ytools todescribe an inde-f pendent circle, each fcircle, being-in a different vertical plaiie While simultaneously rotating-saidv tools on, their own axes.

4. In a. device of theI classv described, a tools co-plane'r circular oscillation to said. toolI holder -and ca'usingeach of said tools to describe circlesaround the circular surfaces ofthe' Work pieces, and means simultaneously imparting individualjrotation to each of said tools.A I

.Vi-."Ina deviceof'the class described, a tool holding element, a plurality of tools held i thereby, a `Work holding element adaptedfto receive a4 plurality of YWork pieces having cir-f holder and causing each of said tools to rplanar .circular cular surfaces, a co-planar circular oscillation to said tool de-l scribe circles around the circular surfaces of the Work pieces, 'means for individually rotating said tools While moving in circular oscillation, and means forrmoving they tool holder and work holder relative to each other to bring different tools into operable relation to the Worlfi pieces. i i

6. In a device of the class described, a tool holding element, a plurality of tools held thereby, a Work holding element adapted to receive a plurality of Work pieces having circular surfaces, means for imparting a; cooscillation to said tool holder and causing eachof said tools to describe circles around the circular surfaces of the work pieces, and means for periodically moving the work holder away from the tools, rotating the Work holder to shift the said pieces into alinement With different of the tools, and moving the Worl holder back toward the tools. Y Y

7. In a device o f the class described, a tool holding element, plurality of tools held thereby, a Work holding element adapted to receive a plurality of Work pieces having circular suifaces,'means for moving said holder and causing each of said tools to describe a circle around the circular surfaceV of a Work piece, and means for periodically moving the work holder away from the tools, rotating the Work holder to shift the said pieces into alinementwith different of the tools, and moving the Work holder back toward the tools,said latter means comprising a sup- Vport for the work holder, adrive shaft for the same having a'gear thereon, a drive gear meshing With the gear on the shaft, one of said gears having missing teeth, to cause only periodical rotation of the drive shaft, and a' cam driven from a source of power and operably connected to said shaft for raising and lowering it.

8. In a device of the class described, a tool holding element-having a plurality of tools spaced in a circular formation thereon, a work holding element adapted to hold a plurality of Work pieces spaced ina circular formation thereon, in operable alinement With.

said tools, means for imparting aco-planar circular oscillation to said tool holding element to impart independent circular motion to its pieces, and means for moving said elements apart and for rotating one of them to cause diiferent tools to operably aline with different Work pieces.

9. In ai device of the classdescribed, a tool holding element havinga plurality of tools' thereon in equi-distantly spaced concentric relation, a Work holding element adapted to hold a pluralityof WorkA piecestliereon, positioned to be operated on Vby the tools, means for imparting a eo-planar. eircularoscillation and means lfor imparting tonne off said -elements tocauselits pieces to f describeI independent lcircles on the pieces of fj-,he other element, iand means for, imparting i, individua-l' rotation iabout their jown respecive ,axesto the-pieces onone ofsaidelepositioned to be opeiatedongbythe tools,

. `means for moving; one of' said velements to cause its piecesto describe independent vcircles-onthepieces Qftheother element and means for automatically'varying the size of.

Vcircles described by saidelements when a tool encounters an' obstruction on a Work piece.

11. In a device of the class described, av

f tool holding element'v having a plurality ofk tools thereon, a Work holding element adapt-j ed to hold a plurality of work pieces there-v on, positioned to be operated on by the tools,

means for moving `.one of said elements to cause its pieces to describe independent cir-V cles on the pieces of the other element, means formoving one of said elements axially of said circles and meansffor separating the elements to disengage the tools and Work pieces.

12. tool holding element having a plurality of tools thereon, a Work holding element adapted to hold a plurality of work pieces thereon, positioned to be operated on by the tools,

means for imparting a co-planar circular. os-y cillation to one of rsaid elements toacause its pieces to describe independent circles on the pieces of the other element and means for simultaneously rotating the tools and Work pieces relative to each other While maintaining them in engagement with each other.

13. In a'device of the class described, a rotatable driving member having a shaft eccentrically mounted for independent rotation' Ae5 In a device ofthe yclass described, aIv

' therein, whereby rotation of the driving member effects movement of the shaft about a circle, a. projection on the shaft eccentric thereto, a tool holder eccentrically -connectedto said projection, means for restricting movement of the tool holder imparted by movement of the driving member through said connection to that of a small circley which causes a plurality of points on the holder to .describe independent circles and means for rotating said shaft at intervals to change the eccentricity of .said-projection andthereby change the circles described bythe points on the tool holder., Y g i 14. In a device of the class described, a tool holding element, a-.pluralityof tools held thereby, a Work holding element'adapted to receive a pluralityof Work pieces, means for moving said Work holder' and causing each of said tools to describe acircle, vand means `and. lowering it.

for' periodically moving the Work holder. away from the tools,rotatingl'thesaidholder @to shift s'a-d pieces into registry with Said tools, movingthe holder` back toward1 the tools, said lattery means colmprisng asupport for the Work holder, a drive shaft for the samehavngagear thereon, a drive'gear 'meshing'Wth-the-gear'on-the shaft',one of Y said gears haVngf'mSsng--teeth tocau'se only periodical rotation ofthe dri-ve shaft', and f1 Cam dri-Ven from uvson-roe of power and 0p- -ferably connected to* said Shaft for raising I ALEXANDER W. ooPLANn.v

CERTIFICATE or ooRREoTloN.

Patent No. 1,848,108. Granted March 8, 1932, to

ALEXANDER W. COPLAND.

1t is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 68, after the word axs," insert the Word due; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the: record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 26th day of April, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner o Patents. 

